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Murphy Brothers #1
Wild Heart
Can I risk everything for my first time with a man?
Deacon: Oldest brother. Devoted dad. Family man.
I do what needs to be done. At 19, that meant taking over the family bed and breakfast and raising my brothers when our parents died. I married my high-school sweetheart. Had a kid. The marriage didn't last, but I love my daughter more than anything.
And none of them know I’m gay.
I’m determined to keep it that way. I could lose my daughter, lose everything, if people found out. I’ve made my peace with keeping that part of me locked away—until Mal Turner walks into my life.
Mal is like a half-tamed animal—skittish, vulnerable, gentle, and sweet. He’s just supposed to be the fill-in cook at my family’s inn, but he steals my breath the moment I see him. Before long, he’s stolen my heart.
I’ve never been with a man before, but Mal makes me reckless. And when demons from his past show up on our idyllic island of Summersea, I have to make a choice. Deny what my heart—and my body—knows is right? Or risk everything for the man I love...
Wild Heart is the 1st book in the Murphy Brothers series, which follows a family of brothers as they find their sweet, snarky, and steamy happily-ever-afters on small-town Summersea Island. Each book can be read on its own—but why would you do that, when you could read them all together? Wild Heart is a 116,000 word m/m romance with single dad, out-for-you, and hurt/comfort themes. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.
Deacon: Oldest brother. Devoted dad. Family man.
I do what needs to be done. At 19, that meant taking over the family bed and breakfast and raising my brothers when our parents died. I married my high-school sweetheart. Had a kid. The marriage didn't last, but I love my daughter more than anything.
And none of them know I’m gay.
I’m determined to keep it that way. I could lose my daughter, lose everything, if people found out. I’ve made my peace with keeping that part of me locked away—until Mal Turner walks into my life.
Mal is like a half-tamed animal—skittish, vulnerable, gentle, and sweet. He’s just supposed to be the fill-in cook at my family’s inn, but he steals my breath the moment I see him. Before long, he’s stolen my heart.
I’ve never been with a man before, but Mal makes me reckless. And when demons from his past show up on our idyllic island of Summersea, I have to make a choice. Deny what my heart—and my body—knows is right? Or risk everything for the man I love...
Wild Heart is the 1st book in the Murphy Brothers series, which follows a family of brothers as they find their sweet, snarky, and steamy happily-ever-afters on small-town Summersea Island. Each book can be read on its own—but why would you do that, when you could read them all together? Wild Heart is a 116,000 word m/m romance with single dad, out-for-you, and hurt/comfort themes. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2019
535 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Spears
44 books442 followersSpencer Spears writes LGBTQ+ stories that are snarky, sweet, and will break your heart in all the best ways. Spencer believes we all deserve to write our own happy endings. When not at the computer, Spencer can be found gardening, knitting, or curled up with a good book. Visit www.spencerspears.com for free books, updates, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 6, 2019
Rating this book one star just seems cruel. I feel like I'm beating up a fourth grader. I feel like I bought a toy from the dollar store and then was surprised when it broke. This rating is equivalent to finding a kitten and dunking it in a puddle. Abandoning this book leaves me vaguely morose.
I wanted it to be good. I really wanted to like it. I tried.
I didn't finish it at 35%.
I wish there were something really terrible about it, something unforgivable so I could happily toss it out the door and wash my hands of it with a sense of righteousness. Instead, my will to read Wild Heart slowly trickled away with every page I turned.
I think I had two major problems with the book: the style of writing and the everything else. The prose reads like Spencer Spears is chatting with me in person. I don't care for it. It's very, very informal and feels...lazy? I feel shortchanged. It definitely makes writing a book easier when you write the entire book like you talk. The "everything else" I had a problem with is the utter blandness of the characters and the story. Both were completely unremarkable in every way: nice single dad and lithe waif with a bad ex. It didn't work for me. There wasn't one special moment that made this book stand out from other Spencer Spears works, let alone the glut of m/m romance novels circulating through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited library.
I've previously read Hunter's Heart by Spencer Spears and rated it three stars. Looking back at the blurb, the scenario sounds familiar, but I can't remember any book details. It could be that I've become a tad more disappointed, critical, and disillusioned with m/m romance novels since that rating and Wild Heart, perhaps a three-star rating in the past, has now been binned as a DNF. It could be that I've changed and not Spencer Spears's writing. Or it could be that this book is bad. I don't know if it really matters.
I'm off to read something else and I probably won't pick up a Spears book again.
I wanted it to be good. I really wanted to like it. I tried.
I didn't finish it at 35%.
I wish there were something really terrible about it, something unforgivable so I could happily toss it out the door and wash my hands of it with a sense of righteousness. Instead, my will to read Wild Heart slowly trickled away with every page I turned.
I think I had two major problems with the book: the style of writing and the everything else. The prose reads like Spencer Spears is chatting with me in person. I don't care for it. It's very, very informal and feels...lazy? I feel shortchanged. It definitely makes writing a book easier when you write the entire book like you talk. The "everything else" I had a problem with is the utter blandness of the characters and the story. Both were completely unremarkable in every way: nice single dad and lithe waif with a bad ex. It didn't work for me. There wasn't one special moment that made this book stand out from other Spencer Spears works, let alone the glut of m/m romance novels circulating through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited library.
I've previously read Hunter's Heart by Spencer Spears and rated it three stars. Looking back at the blurb, the scenario sounds familiar, but I can't remember any book details. It could be that I've become a tad more disappointed, critical, and disillusioned with m/m romance novels since that rating and Wild Heart, perhaps a three-star rating in the past, has now been binned as a DNF. It could be that I've changed and not Spencer Spears's writing. Or it could be that this book is bad. I don't know if it really matters.
I'm off to read something else and I probably won't pick up a Spears book again.
July 3, 2019
This was not a slow burn romance, it was boring. The MC has been abused and is running from his ex-lover. He won’t defend himself or call the police even though his ex has threatened him. Yet, within seconds he goes all horny for the next good looking guy he meets. Really? If you want to write about someone who is traumatized and on the run, do some research and be realistic. This was silly. We are then subjected to the slowest burn romance known to human kind. Nothing happens except that the main characters keep analyzing their thoughts each, over and over and over again, in their heads. How many times can you say the same thing to yourself? Aargh! Cut it by two thirds and make a short story.
June 18, 2019
I did enjoy this and I would give this a higher rating if it wasn't for a few things:
A) The timeline is a bit wonky. Kim is away for 3 months, so Lily will be with Deacon thru the first week of September, but Kim is back before the end of the summer. Mal arrives one day (sometime in July, presumably early or mid-) and then pretty much the next chapter, it's three weeks later. And then another few weeks happen and Pam's out of her cast, and my best guess for the date is sometime in mid-August. And meanwhile, Deacon gets a letter before Mal arrives with the offer to buy the Wisteria and another shortly after saying they want to buy in 3 weeks time, but since Pam busted up her foot, spent 6 weeks in a cast and the deal still hasn't happened, I don't know why the '3 weeks' was thrown in there, as it just muddled up the timeline even more. And at one point it's mentioned that Mal left Stephen 2 months ago, though I don't know if that was just given as a rough estimate of time. But, seeing as the passage of time happens off page, and all the random mentions of weeks, you don't really get a good grasp of how much time has passed.
B) I couldn't pin down Lily's age for a while, because even though the math puts her around 9, she sometimes speaks as though she was 4 or 5.
C) Sometimes in the narration, the reader is addressed, and I hate that. But even worse is that is isn't done very consistently. It happens with more frequency at the beginning of the book, but kind of tapers off as the story progresses.
D) I feel like there was some drama hinted at with Em (and on a lesser note, Connor) that wasn't fully addressed. I assume that that was left that way so as to make a series out of this, especially since there are 3 other gay men who have yet to receive their HEA, but since there is no mention of a series, I'm not thrilled about the hints dropped about Em having some kind of personal issue going on and it not being addressed. And I don't feel like Connor and Deacon really patched things up, either... which is understandable on Connor's part.
E) Deacon's whole reasoning for being closeted was a bit annoying. And not knowing if his ex-wife was homophobic, even after being with her for 5-ish years and having two gay brothers just seems a bit obtuse.
A) The timeline is a bit wonky. Kim is away for 3 months, so Lily will be with Deacon thru the first week of September, but Kim is back before the end of the summer. Mal arrives one day (sometime in July, presumably early or mid-) and then pretty much the next chapter, it's three weeks later. And then another few weeks happen and Pam's out of her cast, and my best guess for the date is sometime in mid-August. And meanwhile, Deacon gets a letter before Mal arrives with the offer to buy the Wisteria and another shortly after saying they want to buy in 3 weeks time, but since Pam busted up her foot, spent 6 weeks in a cast and the deal still hasn't happened, I don't know why the '3 weeks' was thrown in there, as it just muddled up the timeline even more. And at one point it's mentioned that Mal left Stephen 2 months ago, though I don't know if that was just given as a rough estimate of time. But, seeing as the passage of time happens off page, and all the random mentions of weeks, you don't really get a good grasp of how much time has passed.
B) I couldn't pin down Lily's age for a while, because even though the math puts her around 9, she sometimes speaks as though she was 4 or 5.
C) Sometimes in the narration, the reader is addressed, and I hate that. But even worse is that is isn't done very consistently. It happens with more frequency at the beginning of the book, but kind of tapers off as the story progresses.
D) I feel like there was some drama hinted at with Em (and on a lesser note, Connor) that wasn't fully addressed. I assume that that was left that way so as to make a series out of this, especially since there are 3 other gay men who have yet to receive their HEA, but since there is no mention of a series, I'm not thrilled about the hints dropped about Em having some kind of personal issue going on and it not being addressed. And I don't feel like Connor and Deacon really patched things up, either... which is understandable on Connor's part.
E) Deacon's whole reasoning for being closeted was a bit annoying. And not knowing if his ex-wife was homophobic, even after being with her for 5-ish years and having two gay brothers just seems a bit obtuse.
March 4, 2021
Wild Heart
By Spencer Spears
Published by the author, 2019
Five stars
I actually read the sequel to this book first, and enjoyed it so much I wanted to see how the story started. First, be clear about one thing: this is a romance, not a literary masterpiece like “Anna Karenina” or “Madam Bovary” (ugh, both really depressing books with tragic endings). There is lots of painful emotion in this, and perhaps a wee bit too much sex (for my taste, but I’m old and jaded). There is, of course, plenty of that classic romance ingredient: people keeping secrets and not talking to each other.
But, best of all, the overarching metaphor for this book is a litter of orphaned kittens!
Spears take this medium in which he has cast his lot as an author and rules it. He gives us two beautiful but damaged men—the muscular bearded daddy, Deacon Murphy; and the slim hazel-eyed twink, Malachi Turner. OK, this is sort of a set up for a certain kind of limited-plot film, but these are two archetypes that I love. I have imagined myself in both these roles, because I am a romantic.
Deacon and Mal have been damaged similarly but by different means. Both have suffered through the abuse of power by people stronger than they are; people who play on their feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing in order to manipulate them. At the start of the story, both Deacon and Mal are so buried in feelings of guilt that we wonder how they’ll ever dig themselves out.
Spears lavishes loving attention on all of his characters, not just the two central figures. I will admit that the two visible “bad guys” in the book are not very three-dimensional, given the richness of people like Deacon’s daughter Lily and Mal’s friend Nolan. Secondary is just that, but these players create an emotional context for the two broken souls, gently nudging them in the direction of self-awareness and strength.
There is a quiet satisfaction to the enjoyment of classic romance novels, especially if they are done well and offer rewards for the effort required. Spears is to be commended for honoring his genre, infusing it with freshness and authenticity.
By Spencer Spears
Published by the author, 2019
Five stars
I actually read the sequel to this book first, and enjoyed it so much I wanted to see how the story started. First, be clear about one thing: this is a romance, not a literary masterpiece like “Anna Karenina” or “Madam Bovary” (ugh, both really depressing books with tragic endings). There is lots of painful emotion in this, and perhaps a wee bit too much sex (for my taste, but I’m old and jaded). There is, of course, plenty of that classic romance ingredient: people keeping secrets and not talking to each other.
But, best of all, the overarching metaphor for this book is a litter of orphaned kittens!
Spears take this medium in which he has cast his lot as an author and rules it. He gives us two beautiful but damaged men—the muscular bearded daddy, Deacon Murphy; and the slim hazel-eyed twink, Malachi Turner. OK, this is sort of a set up for a certain kind of limited-plot film, but these are two archetypes that I love. I have imagined myself in both these roles, because I am a romantic.
Deacon and Mal have been damaged similarly but by different means. Both have suffered through the abuse of power by people stronger than they are; people who play on their feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing in order to manipulate them. At the start of the story, both Deacon and Mal are so buried in feelings of guilt that we wonder how they’ll ever dig themselves out.
Spears lavishes loving attention on all of his characters, not just the two central figures. I will admit that the two visible “bad guys” in the book are not very three-dimensional, given the richness of people like Deacon’s daughter Lily and Mal’s friend Nolan. Secondary is just that, but these players create an emotional context for the two broken souls, gently nudging them in the direction of self-awareness and strength.
There is a quiet satisfaction to the enjoyment of classic romance novels, especially if they are done well and offer rewards for the effort required. Spears is to be commended for honoring his genre, infusing it with freshness and authenticity.
June 9, 2020
4.5 Stars - Rounded Up
Let me begin with an admission that I love the way Spencer Spears writes. He has an incredible talent for creating believable and lovable characters and placing them in the most perfect of settings.
In Wild Heart that perfect setting is the charming old Wisteria Inn in the quaint, picturesque town of Adair on the fictional Summersea Island.
The main characters are Deacon Murphy, the co-owner and operator of the Wisteria Inn, and Mal (Malachi) Turner, a frightened, insecure young man who ends up arriving at the Wisteria Inn as he attempts to escape from a physically and emotionally abusive ex .
They are immediately attracted to each other, but the baggage each carries prevents either of them from acting on his feelings. Mal is openly gay. Deacon is just coming to terms with the fact that he likes men but is terrified that admitting it will destroy his life.
For me this one bit of discussion between Mal and Deacon perfectly illustrated the way they each approached life. Mal began, “I have a history of jumping into things too fast.” To which Deacon replied, “Well I have a history of moving so slow that a glacier can eclipse me”.
That discussion also encapsulated both the strength and the weakness of Wild Heart. The only thing that kept me from a full 5-star rating was how much angst there was and how often Mal and Deacon each retreated to their former ways of thinking.
There are so many wonderful supporting characters in ‘Wild Heart’ including Mel’s best friend, Deacon’s two brother, his ex-wife, and most importantly his wonderful young daughter. And, of course, six feral kittens who play a prominent role throughout.
Despite the author’s appropriate warning that the book contains references to emotional and physical abuse that happened in the past, 'Wild Heart' was the perfect lead-up to ‘Free Spirit’ the second Summersea Island book, that I actually read first and thorough enjoyed as well.
Let me begin with an admission that I love the way Spencer Spears writes. He has an incredible talent for creating believable and lovable characters and placing them in the most perfect of settings.
In Wild Heart that perfect setting is the charming old Wisteria Inn in the quaint, picturesque town of Adair on the fictional Summersea Island.
The main characters are Deacon Murphy, the co-owner and operator of the Wisteria Inn, and Mal (Malachi) Turner, a frightened, insecure young man who ends up arriving at the Wisteria Inn as he attempts to escape from a physically and emotionally abusive ex .
They are immediately attracted to each other, but the baggage each carries prevents either of them from acting on his feelings. Mal is openly gay. Deacon is just coming to terms with the fact that he likes men but is terrified that admitting it will destroy his life.
For me this one bit of discussion between Mal and Deacon perfectly illustrated the way they each approached life. Mal began, “I have a history of jumping into things too fast.” To which Deacon replied, “Well I have a history of moving so slow that a glacier can eclipse me”.
That discussion also encapsulated both the strength and the weakness of Wild Heart. The only thing that kept me from a full 5-star rating was how much angst there was and how often Mal and Deacon each retreated to their former ways of thinking.
There are so many wonderful supporting characters in ‘Wild Heart’ including Mel’s best friend, Deacon’s two brother, his ex-wife, and most importantly his wonderful young daughter. And, of course, six feral kittens who play a prominent role throughout.
Despite the author’s appropriate warning that the book contains references to emotional and physical abuse that happened in the past, 'Wild Heart' was the perfect lead-up to ‘Free Spirit’ the second Summersea Island book, that I actually read first and thorough enjoyed as well.
November 18, 2020
Light but heart melting
This was perfect! I couldn’t help laughing out loud, and then two pages later my heart broke. The MC were gorgeously written - snarky and light enough to not become bogged down, but with enough depth and tragedy to not become insipid. You know how sometimes you read something and it gets to “the twist” and it just becomes too much? At about 60% mark, I started thinking “Please don’t mess this up. This is the first potential five-star I’ve read in a while. Please. Please don’t disappoint me.” And it didn’t!! The characters’ and plot’s crises were honest, not contrived; the resolution was real and not rushed to fit in the last few pages.
The author is new-to-me but I’m definitely reading more of his catalog. Looking forward to the next in the series as well as his other books.
This was perfect! I couldn’t help laughing out loud, and then two pages later my heart broke. The MC were gorgeously written - snarky and light enough to not become bogged down, but with enough depth and tragedy to not become insipid. You know how sometimes you read something and it gets to “the twist” and it just becomes too much? At about 60% mark, I started thinking “Please don’t mess this up. This is the first potential five-star I’ve read in a while. Please. Please don’t disappoint me.” And it didn’t!! The characters’ and plot’s crises were honest, not contrived; the resolution was real and not rushed to fit in the last few pages.
The author is new-to-me but I’m definitely reading more of his catalog. Looking forward to the next in the series as well as his other books.
April 21, 2021
this was a bit of a disappointing read, unfortunately. i read two of Spencer Spears' other books earlier this year (XOXO, Santa and Sea Kissed) and thought they were wonderful, but this story left me pretty cold. i debated DNFing it a few times, but i figured i'd see out until the end.
Spencer's writing has improved so much in the two or so years since this was released. so i'll definitely continue checking out what he puts out. this just wasn't the tea for me.
Spencer's writing has improved so much in the two or so years since this was released. so i'll definitely continue checking out what he puts out. this just wasn't the tea for me.
March 14, 2025
This book is terrible. Mal just barely escaped a physically abusive relationship and the first guy he meets, he can’t stop getting a hard on from his touch? And can’t stop imagining about being taken back to a sex dungeon and Mal wants that? Mal reads like a horny teenager as he is constantly getting aroused by Deacon and shivers at his touch.
I never complain about female authors writing MM, but this is book is just insulting.
I never complain about female authors writing MM, but this is book is just insulting.
June 7, 2019
There is much to enjoy in this rather gentle, slow burn romance though please be aware that there is abuse by an ex in this book that might make singe uncomfortable. Mal and Deacon are really twin hearts in many ways, damaged, sad, unsure and I enjoyed watching the way they built each other up and helped the other fight their internal demons. I hope we get more of these characters via Deacon's brothers' stories. 4.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌙
June 11, 2019
Loved it! It was a rollercoaster ride, but it was worth it. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to more intriguing tales.
April 11, 2023
I really liked this. Both of the main characters are damaged in believable, relatable ways and their traumas are handled with a deft hand. While the ending is perhaps a little pat, everything leading up to felt earned. I've had my problems with Spears on occasion but this one knocked it out of the park. I can't wait to get to the next in the series.
August 25, 2021
I'm kind of torn on this one. Let's start with what I truly enjoyed: the emotions and the characters. Spears did a fantastic job making me feel throughout the book, and I sympathized with both men (Mal and Deacon). I thought their connection was handled nicely, and their romance and chemistry seemed real.
But ... a number of things kept me from loving this:
So I found the story engaging and compelling, but the weaker aspects pulled me out repeatedly. I don't know if I'll read another in this series or not. :/
But ... a number of things kept me from loving this:
So I found the story engaging and compelling, but the weaker aspects pulled me out repeatedly. I don't know if I'll read another in this series or not. :/
June 6, 2019
Wild Heart's another fantastic book by Spencer Spears, who is definitely a must read author for me.
From the start, I fell for Mal and Deacon. Poor Mal has an abusive ex who's stalking him and the abuse he's had to endure is unimaginable. Deacon meanwhile, has spent his life in the closet. His background's horrific, as he forced himself to marry a woman due to his overwhelmingly homophobic parents. Now divorced, he never planned to find love. Instead he's living a simple life, running an island inn and trying to spend time with his daughter.
Upon meeting Mal, Deacon can't resist the man despite all the complications involved. It's definitely a case of right place, right time for these two. And it just feels right for Deacon to let this stranger stay. What follows is a beautiful love story which happens to include some fantastic first time moments for Deacon. I love Mal and Deacon, I love their story and I love all the emotions involved. These are two men who absolutely belong together.
Their's is a story of making some tough choices. There's guilt and self-sacrifice. It's a story of breaking out of the closet. And it's a tale of overcoming your past.
I love the feel of the island. It's atmosphere is well established allowing the reader to feel the charm of the small island. I appreciate the talk about the good and bad of living in a small place.
The author includes plenty of humor. I love that Mal's imagination gets so carried away; it's so damn hysterical. Full of snark, I was drawn into this adventure and couldn't put it down.
Spencer Spears excels at entwining wonderful characters with a strong, riveting storyline. Wild Heart is a compelling slow burn romance that's well worth a read.
From the start, I fell for Mal and Deacon. Poor Mal has an abusive ex who's stalking him and the abuse he's had to endure is unimaginable. Deacon meanwhile, has spent his life in the closet. His background's horrific, as he forced himself to marry a woman due to his overwhelmingly homophobic parents. Now divorced, he never planned to find love. Instead he's living a simple life, running an island inn and trying to spend time with his daughter.
Upon meeting Mal, Deacon can't resist the man despite all the complications involved. It's definitely a case of right place, right time for these two. And it just feels right for Deacon to let this stranger stay. What follows is a beautiful love story which happens to include some fantastic first time moments for Deacon. I love Mal and Deacon, I love their story and I love all the emotions involved. These are two men who absolutely belong together.
Their's is a story of making some tough choices. There's guilt and self-sacrifice. It's a story of breaking out of the closet. And it's a tale of overcoming your past.
I love the feel of the island. It's atmosphere is well established allowing the reader to feel the charm of the small island. I appreciate the talk about the good and bad of living in a small place.
The author includes plenty of humor. I love that Mal's imagination gets so carried away; it's so damn hysterical. Full of snark, I was drawn into this adventure and couldn't put it down.
Spencer Spears excels at entwining wonderful characters with a strong, riveting storyline. Wild Heart is a compelling slow burn romance that's well worth a read.
January 9, 2022
Too much trauma and suspense in this book for me. I read fluffy, light hearted stuff as an escape. If I wanted these "I am coming to get and break you" stories, I'd read more thrillers. Moreover, I did not enjoy all this dilly-dallying over straight guy /doesn't like to be touched between the two characters that didn't really go anywhere. This whole thing about the Deacon being closeted but not his brothers and no explanation for the animosity between them got on my nerves. Totally not interested in how the story continues. DNF at 38%.
December 11, 2019
Spencer Spears is one of my favorite writers and this book shows his talent. The characters are very credible and Mal is absolutely adorable. Secondary characters are so great specially Deacon’s daughter Lily, Nolan Mal's best friend and the kittens. I want to go to Summersea, meet Mal, Deacon and all the other characters so well written.
A book highly recommended for the summer to come
I was given an ARC for an honest review
A book highly recommended for the summer to come
I was given an ARC for an honest review
dnf-not-for-me
September 25, 2021OMG, checked the backlist and finding out this lily-white appearing author wrote erotica called big black studs & big black this & that is appalling.
DNF 25% Haven’t checked whether I read this author before but probably won’t again. Not bad writing as far as composition, etc but dialogue and narrative are unrealistic and absurd. Making a character abused and brutalized, then trivializing the subject matter with his characterization.
DNF 25% Haven’t checked whether I read this author before but probably won’t again. Not bad writing as far as composition, etc but dialogue and narrative are unrealistic and absurd. Making a character abused and brutalized, then trivializing the subject matter with his characterization.
June 14, 2019
This was such a lovely read from Spencer Spears, always guaranteed that I'll enjoy their books.
We meet Mal, on the run from an ex abusive boyfriend and he ends up on Summersea island. A beautiful place which turns out to be exactly where he needs to be as he arrives at Wisteria Inn which Deacon runs and lives at. He gets to repay Deacon's kindness by staying on as cook but can't help getting attached to the man that's given him a home. Deacon has been living a lie for so long that he never thought he'd have a reason to change but Mal has such a lightness to him and makes such an impact to the Inn that Deacon cannot help but reconsider.
The relationship that builds up between the two men is slow going but is so natural that I felt the connection. My heart broke for Mal as he has been constantly knocked down through his life and as you go through this story, it's a little bit like he's rebuilding himself from within bit by bit. Deacon offers a refuge and safe space for him but also friendship and a family feel as his aunt and daughter are there too. Lily is just adorable and brings the cuteness factor right up. Summersea sounds like a beautiful place with the odd character that makes life so hard for our MC's. Deacon's struggles are something that a lot of people experience, influence from others hurting your own choices but he needs to stand for what he wants and maybe be surprised at the outcome.
This is a wonderful story that I highly recommend. There are other characters that I'd be interested in reading if this was made into a series, including both of Deacon's brothers.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
We meet Mal, on the run from an ex abusive boyfriend and he ends up on Summersea island. A beautiful place which turns out to be exactly where he needs to be as he arrives at Wisteria Inn which Deacon runs and lives at. He gets to repay Deacon's kindness by staying on as cook but can't help getting attached to the man that's given him a home. Deacon has been living a lie for so long that he never thought he'd have a reason to change but Mal has such a lightness to him and makes such an impact to the Inn that Deacon cannot help but reconsider.
The relationship that builds up between the two men is slow going but is so natural that I felt the connection. My heart broke for Mal as he has been constantly knocked down through his life and as you go through this story, it's a little bit like he's rebuilding himself from within bit by bit. Deacon offers a refuge and safe space for him but also friendship and a family feel as his aunt and daughter are there too. Lily is just adorable and brings the cuteness factor right up. Summersea sounds like a beautiful place with the odd character that makes life so hard for our MC's. Deacon's struggles are something that a lot of people experience, influence from others hurting your own choices but he needs to stand for what he wants and maybe be surprised at the outcome.
This is a wonderful story that I highly recommend. There are other characters that I'd be interested in reading if this was made into a series, including both of Deacon's brothers.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
December 24, 2019
Full of angst and drama but I loved it!
I love reading about characters that have a background story; the ones that are not “perfect” but human, and Deacon and Mal are the definition of that, so I really enjoyed reading their story.
The reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I think that their relationship moved too quickly (I mean feelings wise). I’ve never been in love before, but I don’t think a person can deeply love someone with just a month of knowing them, and even less time actually having a “relationship” with said person. Therefore I wished the timespan would’ve been a little bit longer.
Also, there is a character, Mal’s ex, Stephen, that I would’ve liked to have gotten beat up at least once during the story because he rated a beating. At the very least, I wanted Mal to report him to the police, for domestic violence, and harassment. It’s just that, every time I think about it, in the story, although all of the horrible things this guy did, he got off unscathed, and he’s probably going to go find another unsuspecting, innocent person to do the same to, and make them another victim. I know it’s just a story, I know it’s just another fictional character in said story, and I know I may be nick picking too much but those are the reasons why I deducted a star from this book.
Other than those two things, I completely enjoyed reading the story. It got my feelings fluctuating between frustrated, sad, angry and happy until the very end, so all in all it was a good book.
I love reading about characters that have a background story; the ones that are not “perfect” but human, and Deacon and Mal are the definition of that, so I really enjoyed reading their story.
The reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I think that their relationship moved too quickly (I mean feelings wise). I’ve never been in love before, but I don’t think a person can deeply love someone with just a month of knowing them, and even less time actually having a “relationship” with said person. Therefore I wished the timespan would’ve been a little bit longer.
Also, there is a character, Mal’s ex, Stephen, that I would’ve liked to have gotten beat up at least once during the story because he rated a beating. At the very least, I wanted Mal to report him to the police, for domestic violence, and harassment. It’s just that, every time I think about it, in the story, although all of the horrible things this guy did, he got off unscathed, and he’s probably going to go find another unsuspecting, innocent person to do the same to, and make them another victim. I know it’s just a story, I know it’s just another fictional character in said story, and I know I may be nick picking too much but those are the reasons why I deducted a star from this book.
Other than those two things, I completely enjoyed reading the story. It got my feelings fluctuating between frustrated, sad, angry and happy until the very end, so all in all it was a good book.
June 9, 2019
3.5 stars
I was really happy to see a new book by Spencer Spears, since she's one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read that some people don't like her style and that she's writing just the way you speak... but I don't mind that, quite the contrary. Especially since it's written in first person, it's a good way to handle your writing.
The 8 Million Heart Series is over now, sadly, but now we're getting some new boys in Summersea - a little island in the south of the United States.
Mal, who was abused by his former boyfriend, find refuge at the Wisteria inn that is run by Deacon and his aunt. When said aunt gets hurt, Mal offers to do the cooking, both men get closer and BAM.
I really enjoyed the story, since I'm a sucker for a good hurt/comfort.
There were a couple of things that bothered me a bit...
But aside from those things, I enjoyed the island, the inn, the people, Deacon's cute daughter Lily and all those cheeky kittens.
I was really happy to see a new book by Spencer Spears, since she's one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read that some people don't like her style and that she's writing just the way you speak... but I don't mind that, quite the contrary. Especially since it's written in first person, it's a good way to handle your writing.
The 8 Million Heart Series is over now, sadly, but now we're getting some new boys in Summersea - a little island in the south of the United States.
Mal, who was abused by his former boyfriend, find refuge at the Wisteria inn that is run by Deacon and his aunt. When said aunt gets hurt, Mal offers to do the cooking, both men get closer and BAM.
I really enjoyed the story, since I'm a sucker for a good hurt/comfort.
There were a couple of things that bothered me a bit...
But aside from those things, I enjoyed the island, the inn, the people, Deacon's cute daughter Lily and all those cheeky kittens.
August 13, 2021
Really good but wanted more
The beginning of this book starts off fairly dramatic and I was immediately sucked into the story and Mal as a character. He is on the run from a scary ex who thinks he owns Mal and treats him poorly. And Mal runs right to Summersea island to hide and lands ironically into the lap of a man in need of several things… all things Mal is suited to give even when he has nothing not even confidence. But Deacon needs someone to love for himself and he needs a cook. It’s kind of a frustrating slow burn. And I started to get disappointed when we so much details about some things and the author glosses over others. Like I was so excited to see how much Deacon would enjoy finding out just how good Mal was in the kitchen. Then the next chapter they skip the whole first week of him cooking. It’s barely mentioned till later. Also I felt the author missed out some great moments to build tension and instead focused on the kittens or something else trivial. We also never see interactions with guests which made me sad since this is what they both decide they should do with their lives and love. And I also expected the ending to happen with more of a bang with the ex or something. For so much building up on several fronts it ends pretty easily. So don’t go into this expecting much suspense or tension or fireworks. It’s really such a sweet romance and kinda lower steam levels. But still very quaint and enjoyable.
The beginning of this book starts off fairly dramatic and I was immediately sucked into the story and Mal as a character. He is on the run from a scary ex who thinks he owns Mal and treats him poorly. And Mal runs right to Summersea island to hide and lands ironically into the lap of a man in need of several things… all things Mal is suited to give even when he has nothing not even confidence. But Deacon needs someone to love for himself and he needs a cook. It’s kind of a frustrating slow burn. And I started to get disappointed when we so much details about some things and the author glosses over others. Like I was so excited to see how much Deacon would enjoy finding out just how good Mal was in the kitchen. Then the next chapter they skip the whole first week of him cooking. It’s barely mentioned till later. Also I felt the author missed out some great moments to build tension and instead focused on the kittens or something else trivial. We also never see interactions with guests which made me sad since this is what they both decide they should do with their lives and love. And I also expected the ending to happen with more of a bang with the ex or something. For so much building up on several fronts it ends pretty easily. So don’t go into this expecting much suspense or tension or fireworks. It’s really such a sweet romance and kinda lower steam levels. But still very quaint and enjoyable.
June 17, 2019
I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.
In this book we meet Mal Turner and Deacon Murphy. Mal is a man looking for someone to love him even with all his faults. He thinks he finds this in Stephen however that turns into more of a fatal attraction kind of love. Mal leaves town and thinks that he has put his past with Stephen behind him little did he know leaving wouldn't solve his problems at all. So now with nothing he boards a ferry for what he thinks is Palmetto and instead ends up on Adair. He hopes this will increase his luck but he still worries the past will find him again. Deacon is a man who isn't ready to come out of the closet yet. He went as far as marrying a woman and having a child with her just to prove he was straight. Now that his divorce is final though he wonders if it is time for him to step out and live the life he was meant to. When he meets Mal something in him stands up and takes notice. Can these two find a HEA on the island or will the past be something that will make sure that never happens?
This is an amazing story. It does have its ups and downs I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin it for any other readers. I will say this book will have you on the edge of your seat from the first word to the very end. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
In this book we meet Mal Turner and Deacon Murphy. Mal is a man looking for someone to love him even with all his faults. He thinks he finds this in Stephen however that turns into more of a fatal attraction kind of love. Mal leaves town and thinks that he has put his past with Stephen behind him little did he know leaving wouldn't solve his problems at all. So now with nothing he boards a ferry for what he thinks is Palmetto and instead ends up on Adair. He hopes this will increase his luck but he still worries the past will find him again. Deacon is a man who isn't ready to come out of the closet yet. He went as far as marrying a woman and having a child with her just to prove he was straight. Now that his divorce is final though he wonders if it is time for him to step out and live the life he was meant to. When he meets Mal something in him stands up and takes notice. Can these two find a HEA on the island or will the past be something that will make sure that never happens?
This is an amazing story. It does have its ups and downs I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin it for any other readers. I will say this book will have you on the edge of your seat from the first word to the very end. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
September 18, 2020
3,5*
PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings:
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like
‘Jesse's Smile' or ‚Joey’ from Angelique Jurd,
‘Save the kids' series from EM Leya,
‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or
'Liberty' from Seth King),
it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books and
Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series)
it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times a year (most romances where you can
enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader,
maybe 2-3 times a year. It’s like a B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok). It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings:
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like
‘Jesse's Smile' or ‚Joey’ from Angelique Jurd,
‘Save the kids' series from EM Leya,
‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or
'Liberty' from Seth King),
it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books and
Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series)
it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times a year (most romances where you can
enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader,
maybe 2-3 times a year. It’s like a B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok). It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
June 3, 2021
Wake up Deacon before it's too late!!!
This was such a hard story to read and take in that my heart died a thousand times, and I didn't think I could read anymore. All Mal's abuses were unspeakable, but when Kim flounced into the Wisteria and treated Mal and his friend like second class citizens and Deacon flat out denied a relationship and relegated Mal to less than a friend (an employee) , I couldn't read anymore because I was crying too hard. Kim's arrogance and manipulation to get her own way by saying it was for Lily made me want to puke!!! I was devastated and my soul was shattered. I thought Deacon was beyond reproach and loveable when he took the kittens in. But then he laid down and let Kim walk all over his heart I was furious. What he did to Mal emotionally was gutwrenching. I was disappointed that it took Mal leaving for Deacon to finally man up. Why is Kim in charge of their life??? I've had it with her coming in like a wild storm and disrupting everyone, then she changes her mind again like a ditz. Smh. Take a seat Kim. Not a fan!!! By the end of the story she became palatable. I have no words for villain Stephen except bully,coward evil empty vessel!!! I was never so happy to see the end of this story that tore my heart out and then shoved it right back in my chest a bit bruised amd used, but happy.
This was such a hard story to read and take in that my heart died a thousand times, and I didn't think I could read anymore. All Mal's abuses were unspeakable, but when Kim flounced into the Wisteria and treated Mal and his friend like second class citizens and Deacon flat out denied a relationship and relegated Mal to less than a friend (an employee) , I couldn't read anymore because I was crying too hard. Kim's arrogance and manipulation to get her own way by saying it was for Lily made me want to puke!!! I was devastated and my soul was shattered. I thought Deacon was beyond reproach and loveable when he took the kittens in. But then he laid down and let Kim walk all over his heart I was furious. What he did to Mal emotionally was gutwrenching. I was disappointed that it took Mal leaving for Deacon to finally man up. Why is Kim in charge of their life??? I've had it with her coming in like a wild storm and disrupting everyone, then she changes her mind again like a ditz. Smh. Take a seat Kim. Not a fan!!! By the end of the story she became palatable. I have no words for villain Stephen except bully,coward evil empty vessel!!! I was never so happy to see the end of this story that tore my heart out and then shoved it right back in my chest a bit bruised amd used, but happy.
June 6, 2019
🌊 A tiny island town and a friendly innkeeper: will they offer Mal the fresh start he needs?
June 4, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍4.5 🌟stars 🌅💕
This one has great heroes in hotelier Deacon and runaway chef Mal, Deacon's lovely young daughter visiting for the summer, lots of yearning, and tension through to the end thanks to a previous relationship that DID NOT END WELL and a real estate developer eager to transform their sleepy summer vacation town off the Georgia coast.
I loved the slow build-up of the romance and the complicating issues, like Deacon's dilemma of how to get more family time with his daughter Lily. Author Spencer Spears knows how to develop complex characters that draw you in to their imperfect lives. The story's well-written and has a smile-inducing conclusion. Still not my favorite by the author (Gray for You holds that top spot for me), but an emotional and sometimes steamy romance with a coastal, breezy, 🌊beach backdrop and tons of💚 heart.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 4, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍4.5 🌟stars 🌅💕
This one has great heroes in hotelier Deacon and runaway chef Mal, Deacon's lovely young daughter visiting for the summer, lots of yearning, and tension through to the end thanks to a previous relationship that DID NOT END WELL and a real estate developer eager to transform their sleepy summer vacation town off the Georgia coast.
I loved the slow build-up of the romance and the complicating issues, like Deacon's dilemma of how to get more family time with his daughter Lily. Author Spencer Spears knows how to develop complex characters that draw you in to their imperfect lives. The story's well-written and has a smile-inducing conclusion. Still not my favorite by the author (Gray for You holds that top spot for me), but an emotional and sometimes steamy romance with a coastal, breezy, 🌊beach backdrop and tons of💚 heart.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
August 14, 2020
DNF or more like, did not even really start.
Barely got twenty pages in, when I started to realize that I'm already fed up with it.
I wouldn't really say, that the story doesn't have great potential, but the presentation is important.
So when you start out the story and character introductions by letting them monologue for 10 of those pages (basically revealing everything to know about the person and therefore offering no opportunity for any mystery and revealing it), while the other 10 just show me that the main character, despite having been verbally abused and physically threatened, rather runs away AGAIN after clearly being found quite quickly. This, people, is a character trait that will annoy me while reading this book. And when reading the other opinions on this work, I can see that this kind of personality won't change much.
I'll still give it two stars cause I didn't even try to go further into this book and build a fully developed opinion on it. Maybe I'll find myself in a weak moment when I can handle this kind of story, but until then I'll leave it like this.
Barely got twenty pages in, when I started to realize that I'm already fed up with it.
I wouldn't really say, that the story doesn't have great potential, but the presentation is important.
So when you start out the story and character introductions by letting them monologue for 10 of those pages (basically revealing everything to know about the person and therefore offering no opportunity for any mystery and revealing it), while the other 10 just show me that the main character, despite having been verbally abused and physically threatened, rather runs away AGAIN after clearly being found quite quickly. This, people, is a character trait that will annoy me while reading this book. And when reading the other opinions on this work, I can see that this kind of personality won't change much.
I'll still give it two stars cause I didn't even try to go further into this book and build a fully developed opinion on it. Maybe I'll find myself in a weak moment when I can handle this kind of story, but until then I'll leave it like this.
March 5, 2024
Please read this series before the REBEL HEARTS series. In the timeline, this takes place first and characters from this series show up over there!
This was soooo much better than the sequel series! From the planning of the plot and character development, it was awesome. It had a really nice flow.
Abuse trigger warning
It's a slow burn but a good burn.
Both MCs are dealing with their own shit from dealing with abuse while in hiding -to- hiding their true self from the world to protect themselves and others. They are both so loveable. There was a lot of detail and thought process behind everything that I enjoyed and respected. However, some verbal and thought dialogue was really repetitive, so that got annoying. The chapters were long and could have been split up better for each MCs different perspective from their PoV on certain subjects and plots. The spice was ok. Slow burn. But for what it was, I'll accept. I love a good first-time & single father trope :)
Lily and her gang of kittens were the MVP <3
This was soooo much better than the sequel series! From the planning of the plot and character development, it was awesome. It had a really nice flow.
Abuse trigger warning
It's a slow burn but a good burn.
Both MCs are dealing with their own shit from dealing with abuse while in hiding -to- hiding their true self from the world to protect themselves and others. They are both so loveable. There was a lot of detail and thought process behind everything that I enjoyed and respected. However, some verbal and thought dialogue was really repetitive, so that got annoying. The chapters were long and could have been split up better for each MCs different perspective from their PoV on certain subjects and plots. The spice was ok. Slow burn. But for what it was, I'll accept. I love a good first-time & single father trope :)
Lily and her gang of kittens were the MVP <3
September 7, 2024
I bought the omnibus version of the three-book "Murphy Brothers" series, which doesn't include pop-up review pages after each book, so I am using the individual books to leave my reviews.
This first book in the series "Wild Heart" is a slowish-burning tale of the sweet love that grows between two damaged MCs - Deacon, the deeply closeted, divorced father of 9yo Lily, desperately afraid of losing access to Lily if he comes out or starts a gay relationship.
And then there is Mal, brought up in the foster system without any loving family experience, who is desperately trying to escape his ex, the nastily controlling, pain-inflicting Steven.
Thankfully, little of Steven's manipulating behaviour is actually depicted. The reader simply learns throughout the story just how bad it became, giving ample reason for Mal's terror that he might be found and dragged back for punishment.
However, the course of true love continues in its inevitable way, and through the author's excellent prose, the book ends with all loose knots tied and an "out and happy" HEA.
This first book in the series "Wild Heart" is a slowish-burning tale of the sweet love that grows between two damaged MCs - Deacon, the deeply closeted, divorced father of 9yo Lily, desperately afraid of losing access to Lily if he comes out or starts a gay relationship.
And then there is Mal, brought up in the foster system without any loving family experience, who is desperately trying to escape his ex, the nastily controlling, pain-inflicting Steven.
Thankfully, little of Steven's manipulating behaviour is actually depicted. The reader simply learns throughout the story just how bad it became, giving ample reason for Mal's terror that he might be found and dragged back for punishment.
However, the course of true love continues in its inevitable way, and through the author's excellent prose, the book ends with all loose knots tied and an "out and happy" HEA.
June 21, 2025
It’s always a good thing when books with heavy themes in them treat them with care and consideration. This one does a pretty good job. It does seem to tie things up with a nice neat bow, rather suddenly, after things are looking very bleak, which might be my biggest problem with it, but the mental health topics brought up seem to be treated with the care that a first person narrative can give them. In particular, the characters give each other grace when they can, as they can’t give it to themselves. That being said, I hope that counseling is in their future. Other than that, it’s been a long time since I’ve read a for real in-the-closet romance. This one, from the first introduction of Deacon, he knows he is gay, but in the closet. It must be more fun to write men that are coming to grips with their sexuality, because I read a lot more of that. The mental gymnastics in Deacon’s mind were something to see. In fact, so much of this novel was psychological. That is my thing, and I was fascinated. Mind the trigger warnings, but otherwise, have fun reading!
June 3, 2021
Mal and Deacon
This story definitely pulls the heartstrings and engages your emotions! Mal is just so giving and kind but he is also very vulnerable and has a lot of self esteem issues. Deacon naturally cares for others but has always hid his true self believing it to be absolutely necessary. These sweet men are inexplicably drawn to each other from the moment they meet but there are sooo many obstacles - internally and externally - that their journey is full of missteps before they reach their hard earned HEA.
This is a really great story but for me some of it dragged too much and while some areas had too many words, some areas needed more clarification - for example, when the two brothers visited it seemed odd they had some interaction with the main characters then nothing for the longest time until we find out one of the brothers is back and there had been no mention of them having left.
This story definitely pulls the heartstrings and engages your emotions! Mal is just so giving and kind but he is also very vulnerable and has a lot of self esteem issues. Deacon naturally cares for others but has always hid his true self believing it to be absolutely necessary. These sweet men are inexplicably drawn to each other from the moment they meet but there are sooo many obstacles - internally and externally - that their journey is full of missteps before they reach their hard earned HEA.
This is a really great story but for me some of it dragged too much and while some areas had too many words, some areas needed more clarification - for example, when the two brothers visited it seemed odd they had some interaction with the main characters then nothing for the longest time until we find out one of the brothers is back and there had been no mention of them having left.
September 2, 2024
Quick and easy read. I enjoyed the story progression and liked the fact that the plot didn’t all happen at 90% in. However there were some things that were difficult to go along with:
1. The grandparents. Why mention them at all? They played little to no role in the actual story line
2. The most level headed, reasonable people were Holly (a 17-year old barista) and Deacon’s ex wife (who literally came swooping in at the end to clean up Deacon’s mess and provide and neat and tidy solution to everyone’s problems)
3. The character development was a bit weird? Both MMCs spent the whole time behaving immaturely (granted history has a lot to do with this) and then suddenly had an epiphany and were different? It just wasn’t completely believable
4. The story just ended…like dropped off completely. Why?
Pros:
1. A lot of the banter and internal dialogue was funny
2. The storyline progressed at a believable pace
Still not sure that I’ll read the other books in this series.
1. The grandparents. Why mention them at all? They played little to no role in the actual story line
2. The most level headed, reasonable people were Holly (a 17-year old barista) and Deacon’s ex wife (who literally came swooping in at the end to clean up Deacon’s mess and provide and neat and tidy solution to everyone’s problems)
3. The character development was a bit weird? Both MMCs spent the whole time behaving immaturely (granted history has a lot to do with this) and then suddenly had an epiphany and were different? It just wasn’t completely believable
4. The story just ended…like dropped off completely. Why?
Pros:
1. A lot of the banter and internal dialogue was funny
2. The storyline progressed at a believable pace
Still not sure that I’ll read the other books in this series.
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